Collapsible cot-hammock.



W; BOSS.

OOLLAPSIBLE GOT HAMMOGK.

APPLIOATION FILED 23.24, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH (20-. WASHINGTON. D. c.

W. BOSS. OOLLAPSIBLE 00w HAMMOOK.

APPLIOATION FILED PBB.24, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. C.

Patented May 27, 1913.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BOSS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COLLAPSIBLE COT-HAMMOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27,1913.

Application filed. February 24, 1912. Serial No. 679,716.

in use will provide a particularly comfortable and satisfactory article.

It is an especial object of my invention to construct a hammock body which shall be formed entirely of canvas and yet will be strong and will lie fiat and smooth when'in position, which may be used as a canopied reading hammock or as a bed tent, as desired, and which may be entirely or partially screened at either or both sides of the hammock, as desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and compact stand which may readily be assembled and taken apart and will be strong and stable under any conditions of use.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are par ticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating the application of my invention in one form, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hammock and stand with the top assembled the curtains up, one valance down and one valance raised. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the hammock set up including a view of the top and of the additional fly cover which may at times be used. Figs. 3 and 1 are end elevations of the hammock and stand showing the top in two diiferent positions. Fig. 5 is a partial plan View of the hammock bottom laid with the parts extended in a horizontal plane and some parts broken away. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the parts shown in F ig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view showing a port-ion of the tightener. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of one of the frame bars. Fig. 9 shows a means of supporting the hammock without the use of the stand. Fig. 10 is a view of the complete hammock and stand after the same has been taken apart and packed for carriage. Figs. 11

and 12 are detail views showing the means for removably applying supporting legs to the hammock frame.

The stand comprises two pairs of legs 10, a cross bar 11, and socket members 12, each of said socket members being provided with sockets for holding the two legs angularly positioned and for holding the cross bar at an angle to the plane of said legs slightly greater than a right angle. The socket members are provided with apertures which register with apertures in the legs and cross bar, and in said sets of apertures spring pins 7 13 are inserted to hold the frame in its assembled position. The socket members 12 are also provided with an eye piece 14., set in the angle between the sockets for the legs and the cross bar, adapted to receive the hooks for suspending the hammock. The cross bar and legs of the stand are pref.- erably formed of tubular iron, ordinary iron pipe being suitable for the purpose, and the bottom ends of the legs may be fitted with rounded wooden feet 15.

The complete hammock comprises two essential parts, namely, the bed and the top,

to which may be added, if desired, a special fly top to be secured to cross bar 11 and dropped over the two sides of the hammock for protection from unusually heavy rain. The hammock bed consists of a bottom strip 16 of heavy fabric such as canvas, which is extended beyond the limits of the bed proper at each end to form rigid-angled suspended flaps 17, the ends of said flaps each being turned over and secured to form a loop 18 in which is positioned a suspending bar 19, the ends of said bar having secured thereto chains 20 and 21 which are both fastened to the ring of a hook 22. WVhen the hook 22 is engaged in the eyes let of the socket pieces the valances 24 and 25, respectively, of the hammock. Also loops 26may be secured in the same manner near the ends of the bed portion. The valances are seamed at the edges and provided at each end with eyelets 27 which may be engaged over hooks 28 fastened to supporting flaps 17 to hold the valances raised when desired, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

It will be noted that the bottom and top strips 16 and 23 form an open-ended tube. The framework for holding the bed bottom in stretched condition is applied within this tube and consists of side members 29 and 30 of wood or other suitable material and end members 31. The members 29 and 30 are formed along the narrower sides with grooves 32, as most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8, the object of these grooves being to receive the steam 33 turned inwardly in the tube composed of strips 16 and 23 so that when the frame is assembled within the tube the outer edge of the hammock bottom will be clean and smooth and the valances 24 and 25, Whether up or down, will come flush with the edge of the frame member. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the ends of the frame members 29 and 30 are formed with a cleft or mortise 34. The cross pieces 31 are provided with tongues 35 to engage within the clefts 34, the inside corners of the tongues 35 being slightly beveled, as indicated at 36, so that there will not be a sharp corner to catch on the back wall of the cleft. One end of the cross pieces 31 is formed with a sectional member 37 connected to the center of the cross piece by a hinge 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 the sectional member 37 being provided with a tongue portion 39 which when the parts are closed forms a continuation of the tongue 35. In assembling the parts the frame members 29 and 30 are inserted in the tube formed by the strips 16 and 23 and brought to the edges thereof so that the seams 33 will come in one or the other of grooves 32, said grooves being formed on both sides of members 29 and 30 so that the same can be reversed in position from time to time to prevent warping. The end pieces 31 are then positioned, as shown in Fig. 7, with the tongue 35 in one cleft and the tongue 39 of the sectional portion in the other cleft. By pushing the main cross bar so as to bring the sectional portion and said main portion together the frame pieces 29 and 30 will be forced outwardly thus stretching the top and bottom strips forming the hammock bottom and holding them permanently in such stretched condition.

If the stand is used the hooks 22 will be secured within the eyelets 14 and the hammock bottom will be ready for use, or if no stand is employed a chain 40 of the proper length may be connected to the ring of both hooks 22 and such hooks connected with ropes or other means of support 41 which in turn may be tied to trees, porch pillars or other available upright objects. Chain 40 will prevent spreading of the supporting flaps 17 so that the same will form end walls, as they do where the stand is employed.

Vhere it is desired to use the hammock for sleeping purposes or to employ it away from the screened or shaded porch or even when the same is used on such a porch, the top which I have perfected will prove of great advantage. This is shown in Figs.

v 1 to 4, inclusive, and consists of a piece of fabric material 42 the outside dimensions of which are of practically the same size as the bottom portion of the hammock, but which is constructed so that it may have a little fullness when drawn up in the center by a cord or other means 43. This top is formed with loops at each end within which are positioned stretchers 44 which extend sufliciently beyond the margin of the top proper so that when placed back of chains 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 3, the-top will thereby be held in a position parallel with the bottom. hen several persons are sitting in the hammock so that it is desirable to have one side of the top raised somewhat the bars may be hooked to one or the other of chains 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the top will form a shed-like canopy sloping away from the open side of the hammock. The top is provided with ourtains 45, either or both of which may be dropped down so as to overlap the valances 24 and 25 when the same are hooked up into raised position. In this manner the hammock becomes a completely closed bed or tent in which one can sleep with comfort in all ordinary weather and which will keep out everything except the severest rain. Mosquito netting curtains 46 are also provided, sewed to the top adjacent the curtains 45. Vhen desired, the curtains may be buttoned back on the top, as indicated at 48 in Figs. 3 and 4, and mosquito bar curtains dropped down to keep out insects while permitting the freest circulation of air. hen used for camping purposes, if desired, a fly 49 may be used which will be thrown over and secured along its central line to cross bar 11 or chain 40. This fly, falling outside of the side-top curtains and raised valances, would give ample protection against the severest weather.

For transporting my cot hammock, the entire structure including stand, bottom or bed, top and extra fiy can be assembled into a compact bundle a few inches in diameter and a trifle over six feet long, such as shown in Fig. 10, which, by the use of an ordinary shawl-strap may be carried as readily as a grip or suit-case.

The cot hammock or hammock bed tent above described is of use not only for resting and reading purposes about a residence but may be used as a sleeping tent out-ofdoors for persons with affected lungs or may take the place of tent and cot in camping expeditions, furnishing better and safer accommodations than the unwieldy combination of tent and cot ordinarily used for that purpose and the bulk and weight of which makes ready transportation impractical.

I claim:

1. A cot hammock comprising a bed or bottom formed of two strips of fabric united along both sets of edges of said bed strips, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, valance strips secured between the bed strips, the binding seam being turned in, a stretching frame between said bed strips comprising side bars formed with longitudinal grooves for receiving the seams and end bars having means for engaging and forcing apart said side bars, and means secured to said suspending ends for supporting the hammock.

2. A collapsible cot hammock comprising a fabric port-ion and a removable frame, said. fabric portion consisting of two strips of fabric united along the side edges, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, said removable frame consisting of a pair of side bars and a pair of cross bars having no permanent connection one with another, means for assembling the cross bars upon the ends of the side bars so as to force said side bars outwardly against the inside of the tube formed by the said two strips of fabric, said cross bars forming free and unobstructed sustaining parts from the outer limits of the side bars across the ends of the frames upon which the suspending ends bear in sustaining the hammock, the frame portion of the hammock being held in position by the fabric portion. A

3. A cot hammock comprising a bed or bottom formed of two strips of fabric united at the edges, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, means holding the bed strips stretched, bars secured to the edges of the suspending strips, chains secured to the ends of the bars, and supporting means for the chains including a longitudinal member for holding the chains and said suspending ends from spreading.

4:. A cot hammock comprising a bed or bottom formed of two strips of fabric united at the edges, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, means holding the bed strips stretched, bars secured to the edges of the suspending strips, chains secured to the ends of the bars, supporting means for the chains including a longitudinal member for holding the chains and said suspending ends from spreading, and a canopy top of substantially the same size as the hammock bottom removably secured to said chains and longitudinal member, and having the ends thereof in closing engagement with the edges of said suspending strips. 7

5. A cot hammock comprising a bed or bottom formed of two strips of fabric united at the edges, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, means holding the bed strips stretched, bars secured to the edges of the suspending strips, chains secured to the ends of the bars, supporting means for the chains including a longitudinal member for holding the chains and said suspending ends from spreading, a canopy top of substantially the same size as the hammock bottom, bars secured in the ends of said canopy top which extend beyond the side edges thereof, said bars being'positioned back of the said chains to hold the canopy in engagement with the edges of said suspending ends, and a member securing the center of said canopy to said longitudinal member.

6. A cot hammock comprising a bed or bottom formed of two strips of fabric united at the edges, one of said strips extending beyond each end of the other to provide suspending ends, means holding the bed strips stretched, bars secured to the edges of the suspending st rips, chains secured to the ends of the bars, supporting means for the chains, a canopy top of substantially the same size as the hammock bottom, said top comprising side curtains, and means for removably securing said top to the chains so that the ends of the canopy will be held in closing engagement with the edges of the suspending strips; and means for securing the side curtains to. the suspending ends.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BOSS.

Witnesses:

H. A. BOWMAN, F. A. W'HITELEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

